Lurking outside, Dave Graham shows off the distinct fashion sense of his adopted European home. Hiding behind a stylish scarf and beanie and smoking hand-rolled cigarettes, Dave shies away from the crowd. I hear his voice motoring, only a little slower than usual, practically foaming at the lips, his limbs flailing about, pantomiming precise Beta for his latest proj. Graham is the antithesis of Sharma; habitually unsatisfied, his mind turns and turns, and his lips never stop moving. Joe Kinder, sporting a newly grown porn-star mustache, listens to Graham and watches intently until a girl slinks by: Kinder’s eyes dart back and forth, perplexed by the juxtaposition, unable to decide which is more important.

As if Dave hasn’t brought enough of the Euro-scene with him, the French contingency is on hand: Daniel Dulac, Antoni Lamiche, Jerome Meyer, and Stephan Julien represent the men. Truly a superstar among superstars, Dulac, or “DD” as his friends call him, epitomizes the French approach to climbing. From methodically calculating every detail of a boulder problem before each burn, to maintaining his professional focus off the field, DD is serious. His passion and drive crown him captain of the group — a group that can send V12 on command. Yet not all the Euros are all business. Jerome Meyer’s wild facial expressions and contagious energy make him climbing’s David Beckham wherever the crew travels.